This morning, Jess Santamaria made me think. His problem is that not enough of us are interested in what's going on and therefore he is losing his interest in government. This got me thinking about the feasibility study on our beach.
It is no surprise here that the forces that be are trying to sabotage the beach with this latest feasibility study.
This study should have compared the same square footage to build new versus restoration. It did not. When you have one scenario of basing revenue on 13,477 square feet and the other basing revenue on new construction of 35,000 square feet, (12,000 sq. ft for restaurants and food service, 13,500 for retail/commercial, 6,500 for ballroom and 3,000 sq. ft. for the Museum) which one do you think might come out on top? The study even shows only 5,000 sq. ft for the ballroom area for restoration but they use 6,500 sq. ft. if the building is built new. A Museum is not even used in the restoration scenario but is used in the building new. Confusing?
When you have a cost to construct that is so far off base--$10 million to restore versus $5 million for new, it has to make everyone wonder who, what and why are we getting a study such as this?
Straticon has already said that they can restore/build a 35,000 square foot building for $7 mil and a 50,000 square foot building for $10 mil. This is restoring the building to a grandeur we have not seen in over 50 years. Hedrick Brothers started out at $14 mil and then went down to $10 mil on 35,000 sq. ft. This report says that a restoration of a 35,000 sq. foot building is between $7 mil and $14 mil and decided to use $10 mil as their number. The report admits that the true costs have not been determined but have been discussed. With whom, I ask. It fails to mention that important factor. Was it staff? Was it a builder?
This study should only have been on building a
50,000 square foot building, restore or new.
35,000 square foot building, restore or new.
Base the revenues on each per the square footage that the tenants will occupy.
Factor in the ballroom revenue and the possibilities for subdividing for future revenue.
Give us ideas on Revenue bonds and the remainder on a General Obligation Bond.
It is no wonder that Jess Santamaria is discouraged and says he probably will not run again. His reason? He says that not enough citizens are participating in government—too much apathy. Here in Lake Worth we have active people but still the elected officials and the staff do not listen. Everyone just goes on his merry way and does what he pleases anyway.
When Cara Jennings threw the curve ball and said I will go with whatever is cheaper, every developer around the southern hemisphere perked up his ears. When she insisted that we get a “vision” for our beach, every person with their own agenda went to work to sabotage our footprint at the beach.
You can view the study below.
